The Global Voice for Consumers
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the global voice for consumers annual report 2015 annual report 2015 From our President 05 From our Director General 06 About Consumers International 08 Our Priority Programmes 10 WORLD CONGRESS 16 World Consumer Rights Day 18 Campaigning development 19 Fundraising and Partnerships 20 CI governance 22 Financial Summary 24 Trustee Statement 25 Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Auditors 25 Opinion of the Auditors 25 I look forward to working with the membership on building an even stronger and vivid consumer movement all over the world. I believe we can be even more relevant and impactful than today.” Bart Combée From our President, Bart Combée Bart Combée became That opportunity was fully President at Consumers embraced. Members voted to International’s (CI) General update and upgrade CI’s Articles altering our governance structure to Assembly in Brasilia on 21 be in line with best practice, enable November 2015 and is serving efficient decision making and a four-year term. Mr. Combée provide a broader representation of is also the Chief Executive views in CI. of Consumentenbond in the The changes brought in an Netherlands. expanded Council that will appoint and advise a smaller board of I had the privilege to be elected Trustees. The Board of Trustees as President of Consumers will hold legal responsibility for the International at the 2015 World governance of CI, while the role Congress in Brazil in November. of the General Assembly remains As I take on this role I want to pay essentially unchanged. tribute to my predecessor Jim With our updated governance Guest and the outgoing Council and a strategy that draws on the who ably served Consumers collective power of CI’s Member International for most of 2015 and organisations and consumers over the preceding four year period. generally I feel confident for the Looking back, there have been future. CI is in the best possible real successes in our work with position to increase its impact for Members as the global voice for Members and consumers across the consumers. globe and I look forward to the year The 20th World Congress in Brasilia ahead as the implementation of the was a remarkable and inspiring Consumers International strategy event with Members attending and continues. exchanging views, experience and May I express my thanks to all success from around the globe. Consumers International Members It was also an opportunity, for for your support for CI and Members to update the governance efforts for consumers globally. of CI to make it fit for the future and I look forward to continuing to put us in the best position to deliver work closely with the consumer exceptional results and future movement over the coming year. impact for consumers. Bart Combée CI President CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 5 From our Director General, Amanda Long 2015 has been a year in Together Consumers International which we have begun to and its Members can leverage transition to our new strategy the multinational nature of this movement and drive positive while continuing to deliver change – for consumers and with significant impact for our consumers. Our greatest strength Members. is the depth and breadth of our membership. Its energy, insight, Our vision for the new strategy is expertise and unrivalled potential a world where individuals are as to mobilise form the backbone of powerful as the governments and what we can deliver together, and corporations they interact with. A this year we have moved towards global marketplace where consumers greater alignment with have the power to challenge unfair, our Members. unsafe and unethical corporate We have begun leveraging our practice and win. collective power to deliver impactful It is clear that together with our international advocacy and started 33 The 20th World Congress, held Members we can help consumers to build multinational campaigns in Brasilia, which took place in solve some of the big problems and see early rewards. A few November was a truly motivating they face as they go about their highlights from the report include: event in our calendar as Members everyday lives in an increasingly 33 A major success for CI and came together from around digitalised, globalised world. its Members was achieved in the globe to share the benefit If – as consumer bodies in each December when the revision of of their experience and learn country affected – we can only the UN Guidelines for Consumer from others. It also marked challenge a multinational and any Protection (UNGCP), the an important moment as we detriment caused in isolation, global blueprint for consumer updated our governance to help we risk being small voices faintly protection, was adopted. This make Consumers International fit heard. But, if CI and its Members was a historic moment marking for the future and better able to can collaborate effectively in our the first comprehensive revision deliver impact for our Members. campaigns and influencing, if we of the UNGCP since 1985 and As we move into the future we’re are a federation in action, then included 90% of our original clear that as consumer advocates we too will be multinational in our recommendations. the results of our work should be at reach and see our influence and 33 The launch of the Antibiotics the heart of the decisions made by impact multiply. With Members off the Menu campaign in individuals across the globe, every and Supporters in 120 countries we November marked the start of day. Together we can have truly are in the best possible position forging greater alignment with multinational reach and impact to to challenge poor multinational our Members on marketplace benefit consumers the world over. practices that cause consumer campaigns which we will build I’d like to thank our Members for detriment across borders. upon next year, when we will their ongoing support and efforts also see the results of this year’s towards achieving this goal. I look development work on digital forward to working closely with our tools come to fruition. membership and partners in 2016 to 33 World Consumer Rights Day deliver ever greater impact. 2015, focused on healthy diets and achieved unprecedented Member engagement and profile. Amanda Long CI Director General 6 CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 Together we can help consumers solve some of the big problems they face as they go about their everyday lives in an increasingly globalised world.” Amanda Long CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 7 ABOUT CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL Consumers International is the world federation of consumer rights groups that serves as the independent and authoritative GLOBAL VOICE FOR CONSUMERS 240 member organisations in 120 countries WE fight for a fair, safe and sustainable future for all consumers Our Global Office in London and regional presence around the world in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa support our international campaigns and advocacy and serve our Member and Supporter organisations, helping them to connect with the rest of the global movement. 8 CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 CI staff work with and for the membership, share and promote our common values and lead and coordinate agreed programmes of work to deliver CI’s vision and mission. Our mission GLOBAL VOICE To make major positive impact in advancing consumer rights and empowerment across the world – in the global marketplace and through international policy-making forums. Our strategic objectives FOR CONSUMERS Our strategy for 2015 onwards aims to unlock consumer power on a global scale. We will: Align and leverage the collective power of CI’s Member organisations and consumers generally and partner with 01 CI’s Member organisations to deliver: 33 International advocacy that influences the highest levels of decision-making. 33 Multinational campaigns that are coordinated by CI. 33 Sharing relevant knowledge and best practices by and among CI’s Member organisations, as well as donors and supporters where appropriate. 33 New ways to deliver consumer action and empowerment. Gain widespread recognition for CI and the consumer rights movement as an ever-growing, widely respected, powerful 02 voice in international debates affecting consumers. Reinvigorate organisational strengths and uphold strong organisational governance as a reputable, global organisation. We will deliver stable, sustainable finances for the organisation 03 to ensure its future. All our charitable activities focus on our objectives above and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 9 Our Priority Programmes for International Advocacy and Campaigning Consumers International’s Priority Programmes combine our work on international advocacy and campaigning around four key consumer issues. Each issue is chosen according to the impact it has on consumers around the world, its relevance to our membership and the opportunity for CI to make a real difference. 01 Consumer Justice and Protection 02 Safe, Healthy Food 03 Safe and Fair Financial Services 04 The Rights of Consumers in the Digital Age CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 11 Consumer Justice 01 and Protection A historic moment – the revision of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection – the global blueprint for Consumer Protection. The revision of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP) was a major focus for CI advocacy throughout 2015. The Guidelines play an important role in defining consumer